Elendil was born in [[Númenor]]. He was the son of [[Amandil (Lord of Andúnië)|Amandil]], [[Lords of Andúnië|Lord of Andúnië]] and leader of the [[Faithful]] [[Númenóreans]]. Like his father, Elendil maintained a strong friendship with the [[Elves]] and preserved the old beliefs in [[Ilúvatar]] and reverence for the [[Valar]]; he stood against the barbarous practices of [[Ar-Pharazôn]] the King and [[Sauron]] his advisor. On the advice of his father, who foresaw the coming destruction of Númenor, Elendil put nine ships off the eastern coast and loaded all his people and possessions aboard them.<ref name="Akallabeth">{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>

+

Elendil was born in [[Númenor]]. He was the son of [[Amandil (Lord of Andúnië)|Amandil]], [[Lords of Andúnië|Lord of Andúnië]] and leader of the [[Faithful]] [[Númenóreans]]. Like his father, Elendil maintained a strong friendship with the [[Elves]] and preserved the old beliefs in [[Ilúvatar]] and reverence for the [[Valar]]; he stood against the barbarous practices of [[Ar-Pharazôn]] the King and [[Sauron]] his advisor.

+

+

On the advice of his father, who foresaw the coming destruction of Númenor, Elendil put nine ships off the eastern coast and loaded all his people and possessions aboard them. Amandil then followed the actions of their ancestor, [[Earendil]] and left Númenor attempting to warn the Valar of their King's folly.<ref name="Akallabeth">{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>

+

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Ships of the Faithful.jpg|left|thumb|''The Ships of the Faithful'' by [[Ted Namsith]]]]

+

When the catastrophic [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]] occurred in {{SA|3319}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> Elendil, his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]], and their supporters fled to [[Middle-earth]], sailing east in the nine ships. With them they took the ''[[palantíri]]'', the "Seeing Stones" that were given to the Lords of Andúnië by the Elves of [[Tol Eressëa]], the [[Sceptre of Annúminas]], the [[Ring of Barahir]], [[Narsil]] which Elendil kept as his sword, and a seedling of [[White Tree of Númenor|Nimloth]], the White Tree of Númenor.<ref name="Akallabeth"/>

−

When the catastrophic [[Downfall of Númenor|Downfall]] occurred in {{SA|3319}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> Elendil, his sons Isildur and Anárion, and their supporters fled to [[Middle-earth]], sailing east in the nine ships. With them they took the ''[[palantíri]]'', the "Seeing Stones" that were given to the Lords of Andúnië by the Elves of [[Tol Eressëa]], and a seedling of [[White Tree of Númenor|Nimloth]], the White Tree of Númenor.<ref name="Akallabeth"/>

−

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Ships of the Faithful.jpg|left|thumb|The ships of the faithful]]

The ships became separated during the tumultuous voyage to Middle-earth; while Isildur and Anárion landed in the more southerly lands near the haven of the Faithful at [[Pelargir]], Elendil and his people arrived at the northwest near [[Lindon]]. For this reason there were two kingdoms of the Númenóreans in exile, [[Arnor]] in the north and [[Gondor]] in the south.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> After Elendil finally landed in Middle-earth, he proclaimed in [[Quenya]]: "''Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta''" ("Out of the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] to Middle-earth I have come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"). His heir and great-grandson by 39 generations [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] spoke these words again when he took up the crown of Gondor as King [[Aragorn|Elessar]] at the beginning of the [[Fourth Age]].<ref>{{RK|VI5}}</ref>

The ships became separated during the tumultuous voyage to Middle-earth; while Isildur and Anárion landed in the more southerly lands near the haven of the Faithful at [[Pelargir]], Elendil and his people arrived at the northwest near [[Lindon]]. For this reason there were two kingdoms of the Númenóreans in exile, [[Arnor]] in the north and [[Gondor]] in the south.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref> After Elendil finally landed in Middle-earth, he proclaimed in [[Quenya]]: "''Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta''" ("Out of the [[Belegaer|Great Sea]] to Middle-earth I have come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"). His heir and great-grandson by 39 generations [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] spoke these words again when he took up the crown of Gondor as King [[Aragorn|Elessar]] at the beginning of the [[Fourth Age]].<ref>{{RK|VI5}}</ref>

−

Elendil lived in Arnor, where he founded the city of [[Annúminas]]. His son Anárion established the city of [[Minas Anor]] in [[Anórien]], and Isildur founded Minas Ithil in [[Ithilien]]. Across the [[Anduin]] the city of [[Osgiliath]] was built. In both realms were built towers for the ''palantíri'', with which the lords kept contact.<ref name="Rings"/>

+

Elendil lived in Arnor, where he founded the city of [[Annúminas]]. His son Anárion established the city of [[Minas Anor]] in [[Anórien]], and Isildur founded [[Minas Ithil]] in [[Ithilien]]. Across the [[Anduin]] the city of [[Osgiliath]] was built. In both realms were built towers for the ''palantíri'', with which the lords kept contact.<ref name="Rings"/>

+

+

The evil lord Sauron, having lost his shape in the Downfall of Númenor, returned to Middle-earth as a shadow and a black wind over the sea. It came to [[Mordor]], next to Gondor, where Sauron wrought a new guise.<ref name="Akallabeth"/> In {{SA|3429}} Sauron attacked, seizing Minas Ithil. Isildur fled north to his father, leaving Anárion in charge of Gondor. In {{SA|3434|n}}, King Elendil and Isildur returned south together with the Elven High King [[Gil-galad]] and their combined armies, and fought in the [[War of the Last Alliance]] of Elves and Men.

−

In the Downfall of Númenor the evil lord Sauron lost his shape but returned to Middle-earth as a shadow and a black wind over the sea. It came to [[Mordor]], next to Gondor, where Sauron wrought a new guise.<ref name="Akallabeth"/> In {{SA|3429}} Sauron attacked, seizing Minas Ithil. Isildur fled north to his father, leaving Anárion in charge of Gondor. In {{SA|3434|n}}, King Elendil and Isildur returned south together with the Elven High King [[Gil-galad]] and their combined armies, and fought in [[War of the Last Alliance|War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. At the end of the long siege of [[Barad-dûr]], in the year {{SA|3441|n}} of the Second Age, Sauron came out to personally do battle. Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron and cast him down, but were both slain,<ref name="SA"/> and Elendil's sword [[Narsil]] was broken when he fell. His son Isildur used the broken sword to cut [[the One Ring]] from Sauron's hand. However, despite the urgings of [[Elrond]], Isildur chose not to destroy the Ring at [[Mount Doom]] and was eventually betrayed by the Ring in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], slain by [[Orcs]].<ref name="Rings"/>

+

At the end of the long siege of [[Barad-dûr]], in the year {{SA|3441|n}} of the Second Age, Sauron came out to personally do battle. Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron and cast him down, but were both slain,<ref name="SA"/> and Elendil's sword [[Narsil]] was broken when he fell. His son Isildur used the broken sword to cut [[the One Ring]] from Sauron's hand. However, despite the urgings of [[Elrond]], Isildur chose not to destroy the Ring at [[Mount Doom]] and was eventually betrayed by the Ring in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], slain by [[Orcs]].<ref name="Rings"/>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Line 46:

Line 50:

After the founding of [[Rohan]], the [[Steward]] [[Cirion]] moved Elendil's remains to the Hallows of [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name="Cirion"/>

After the founding of [[Rohan]], the [[Steward]] [[Cirion]] moved Elendil's remains to the Hallows of [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name="Cirion"/>

−

== Etymology ==

+

==Etymology==

Elendil's name actually means "Devoted to the Stars" in [[Quenya]].

Elendil's name actually means "Devoted to the Stars" in [[Quenya]].

For the [[Dúnedain]] it was intended to signify "[[Elf-friend]]" ([[Adûnaic]] ''[[Nimruzîr]]''), since they tended to confuse the Quenya element EL for both "Elf" and "star".

For the [[Dúnedain]] it was intended to signify "[[Elf-friend]]" ([[Adûnaic]] ''[[Nimruzîr]]''), since they tended to confuse the Quenya element EL for both "Elf" and "star".

−

==Portrayal in Adaptations==

+

==Portrayal in adaptations==

−

In the opening exposition of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]], Elendil is played by [[Peter McKenzie]]. Unlike in the books, Elendil is killed by a blow of Sauron, instead of having a part in destroying him with Gil-galad. Instead, Isildur deals the fatal blow to the still-living Sauron by cutting off his Ring.

+

In the opening exposition of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]], Elendil is played by [[Peter McKenzie]]. Unlike in the books, Elendil is killed by a blow of Sauron, instead of having a part in destroying him with Gil-galad. Instead, Isildur deals the fatal blow to the still-living Sauron by cutting off his fingers and with them, the ring of power.

Elendil was the father of Isildur and Anárion, a survivor of the Downfall of Númenor, and the founder and first King of Arnor and Gondor. Elendil was also known as Elendil the Tall the tallest of Men who escaped the Downfall (mentioned to be almost 2.5 rangar tall, 7'11" or 2.41 m)[1] and Elendil the Fair.

On the advice of his father, who foresaw the coming destruction of Númenor, Elendil put nine ships off the eastern coast and loaded all his people and possessions aboard them. Amandil then followed the actions of their ancestor, Earendil and left Númenor attempting to warn the Valar of their King's folly.[2]

The ships became separated during the tumultuous voyage to Middle-earth; while Isildur and Anárion landed in the more southerly lands near the haven of the Faithful at Pelargir, Elendil and his people arrived at the northwest near Lindon. For this reason there were two kingdoms of the Númenóreans in exile, Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south.[4] After Elendil finally landed in Middle-earth, he proclaimed in Quenya: "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta" ("Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I have come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world"). His heir and great-grandson by 39 generations Aragorn II spoke these words again when he took up the crown of Gondor as King Elessar at the beginning of the Fourth Age.[5]

The evil lord Sauron, having lost his shape in the Downfall of Númenor, returned to Middle-earth as a shadow and a black wind over the sea. It came to Mordor, next to Gondor, where Sauron wrought a new guise.[2] In S.A.3429 Sauron attacked, seizing Minas Ithil. Isildur fled north to his father, leaving Anárion in charge of Gondor. In 3434, King Elendil and Isildur returned south together with the Elven High King Gil-galad and their combined armies, and fought in the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.

At the end of the long siege of Barad-dûr, in the year 3441 of the Second Age, Sauron came out to personally do battle. Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron and cast him down, but were both slain,[3] and Elendil's sword Narsil was broken when he fell. His son Isildur used the broken sword to cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. However, despite the urgings of Elrond, Isildur chose not to destroy the Ring at Mount Doom and was eventually betrayed by the Ring in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, slain by Orcs.[4]

Legacy

Elendil was a great warrior, a wise king, and a heroic figure among the Dúnedain and other Men of the West. Isildur built a hidden tomb for his father on the summit of the beacon hill of Halifirien. Its presence was considered great enough to hallow the entire hill, hence its name (Halifirien means "holy mountain" in Rohirric).[6]

Portrayal in adaptations

In the opening exposition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Elendil is played by Peter McKenzie. Unlike in the books, Elendil is killed by a blow of Sauron, instead of having a part in destroying him with Gil-galad. Instead, Isildur deals the fatal blow to the still-living Sauron by cutting off his fingers and with them, the ring of power.